Steelers want LaMarr Woodley to work harder in the offseason

Posted by Michael David Smith on February 17, 2013, 4:42 PM EST

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Steelers outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley was something of a disappointment last season, recording just four sacks while dealing with groin, ankle and hamstring injuries. Now Woodley’s coaches are hoping a renewed emphasis on staying in shape in the offseason will prevent him from struggling through more nagging injuries this season.

Woodley signed a six-year, $61.5 million deal just before the start of the 2011 season, and he’s already made $27 million on the first two years of that contract. At the time Woodley signed that contract, he was coming off his third consecutive double-digit sack season, and he had only missed one game in the last three years.

But in the last two years Woodley’s sack totals have declined to nine in 2011 and four in 2012, and he has missed nine games in the last two years.

They want him to get a summer job so they don’t have to pay him so much.

3fingerlenny says:Feb 17, 2013 4:51 PM

Woodley is cooked

ialwayswantedtobeabanker says:Feb 17, 2013 4:57 PM

The Steelers have a spot-on read on the situation. Since inking the big contract, Wood has come in noticeably overweight, has less pop coming off the ball, less juice in his bull rushes, slower footspeed, less explosion and has been susceptible to hamstring injuries (one of the injuries often attributed to conditioning, or lack thereof).

My understanding is that Woodley was invited to train in Orlando with Ike Taylor and company. Say what you want about Ike, but his conditioning and off-field work ethic is impeccable — but Wood turned it down. Not good.

We need Woodley to take it up a notch (or five).

stillers35 says:Feb 17, 2013 5:02 PM

What a bonehead move for Colbert and the Steelers to give this bum a $61 million deal. He was a stat monster (sacks) early on but anyone who watched his whole body of work knew he was a fraud. LAZY. And to think the Steelers may have to cut a hard working player like Harrison to pay Woodley’s ridiculous salary. 2nd highest paid Steeler and one of the least productive. We also waited too long to sign Keenan Lewis and will likely lose him.

Has there ever been a player who got an enormous pay raise and hen performed better???

deadeye says:Feb 17, 2013 5:13 PM

The decline in performance after signing a large contract is quite common. Expect his numbers to rise as Woodley gets toward the end of his current contract. He’ll need to position himself to maximize what will likely be his final contract.

Woodley said Joe Flacco would never win a Super Bowl. Oops! I’m sure it was fun for the Steelers watching the Ravens win all those games in the playoffs on their way to the championship while they sat at home.

I’m a Steelers fans but the stupid yinzers make me sick. Everyone loved Woodley his whole career until this year when he got injured, then newspapers started printing out stories about him being out of shape and everyone decided to run with it.

He does need to work harder but no one forseen this and if you think you did, you are full of it. There are certain guys who can do no wrong in the black and gold while others are given no chance. Ike Taylor played great every game last season until he played vs a speed burner WR vs a fluke garbage offense then everyone wanted to literally kill him, it makes me want to puke.

Same thing with people loving Troy Polamalu even though he’s perpetually injured and they’re probably better off without him.

Maybe he can do more talking this off season and say how Flacco won’t win “another” Super Bowl in his lifetime.

biglaj007 says:Feb 17, 2013 5:49 PM

He needs to worry about staying in shape than going on TV & saying Flacco will never win a SB in his life-time…Oh by the way Flacco just did few weeks ago & he us SB MVP. Woodley will never be MVP in his life-time!!

kattykathy says:Feb 17, 2013 6:13 PM

Who cares about the Steelers. Just a collection of cheap shot artists and steroid abusers

thepittsburghkid says:Feb 17, 2013 6:27 PM

I hate people.

bobzilla1001 says:Feb 17, 2013 6:29 PM

Cannonball:
You are absolutely right.
Steelers fans are fickled and easily influenced by the media.
Woodley has tailed off because he and James Harrison haven’t played together much the past two seasons due injuries. When both are healthy (at the same time), they compliment each other and are a team within a team…
Polamalu was the most amazing player I’ve ever seen, and he has contributed mightily to a good many victories over the years. But you’re right: The Steelers are probably now better off without him.
Saddens me to say that.

Wow! I can’t believe this many coments and the ravenator hasn’t chimed in! Lol cue the comment he would say for ravens
Can you say beast! He will be back and better than ever this year Colbert is a genius and the best. Hate on haters!
Lol

Bad drafts and signings. Decline and age setting in on some of their best players on defense. Decline of offensive play, especially after replacing a good coordinator (current head coach) with a nut job who can’t get along with his players/staff. And the Tomlins got to pull it all together which won’t happen. The steelers are going down fast and hard and I love it!

I hope he calls Brandon Weeden in Cleveland because he is beyond soft.

davekezer says:Feb 17, 2013 7:37 PM

Hey matthewmtg45… there are plenty of women who love the game. One of them being my wife. I don’t know what type of grudge you have, but there are plenty of awesome women out there that take part in making the NFL awesome. Lay off, for real.

There was football being played prior to the Championship game being officially called “The Super Bowl”. The Steelers even played all the way back then and were terrible.

That being said, the Packers, Bears and Giants have something to say about your belief that the Steelers won the most Championships. You are way behind those teams. If the Steelers won a championship prior to the Super Bowl years, you would count that wouldn’t you? Thought so.

ravenmuscle says:Feb 17, 2013 8:30 PM

The Steelers are the standard for FAILURE and sitting at home watching the Mighty Ravens win Superbowl after Superbowl.

Those OLD and RUSTY rings of the OLD stoolers are a thing of the distant past.

With a ragarm Roethlisberger…no mike wallace…no James Harrison…washed up Polamalu…lazy Woodley…no running backs…a Heath Miller with his knee shot forever…the STANDARD for the Steelers will be last place for Years and Years to come.

Funny how Heinze field always has so many EMPTY yellow seats by half time with the terrible towels being dragged through the mud as they leave the stadiums all over the country.

I just saw him on some cooking show 2 weeks ago. And he owns some pba bowling team! All he does is eat and sit around. I saw him out at dinner a week ago and he looks like he put another 15 lbs on. What a shame. Cause when healthy and in shape. He’s simply unblockable!

bornsteel62 says:Feb 17, 2013 8:47 PM

Sorry coach, can’t make it to FLA for workouts… gotta practice my BOWLING.

This gut is a $61M bust. Routinely handled by the TE, eaten alive by OTs. Watch the 4 ‘sacks’ he got credit for this past season, pure dumb luck. Never actually beat anyone.

randomcommenter says:Feb 17, 2013 8:56 PM

raven fans should be more concerned with the prospect of losing Lewis, Reed, Ellerbee, Birk, and Bolden.

But hey Flacco is elite now and will probably end up one of the highest paid players in the league. What could go wrong giving huge money to such a truly elite player?

Lol 3 of yall coming at me… I had made a comment about about big bens bathroom bonanza, but pft censored it because there arent enough negative comments about ray lewis. Instead, ill just say that you guys are noticably upset, and that shows that the power has shifted in the division. Enjoy finishing below the Bengals for the next 10 years, and enjoy your one wheeled brittle statue quarterback. Also ravens and steelers have the same # of rings since ravens became a franchise, so get used to it. Bmore is here to stay.

And why does pft keep censoring this? It’s not profane or obscene in any manner. Seems like they wanna put up for the steelers.

Not Hating on the Ravens but they have never dominated anyone, they almost lost all their games at the end of the season. Honestly speaking, The Ravens may have won it this year but in reality they were a mediocre team who played well at the right time and had lots of luck. I highly doubt this team will come close to winning again next year. This was a fluke year where anyone who got in the playoffs could of won, including the steelers. They proved that when they beat baltimore in their house with Charlie Batch. I expect Raven fans to disagree because their not being truthful but these are the facts. As for Woodley I expect him to turn in a way better season then he did at the end of last year.

ravenmuscle says:Feb 17, 2013 9:50 PM

There is NO salary cap mess with the Ravens….Ozzie will sign Joe to a 7 year deal that is cap friendly for the first three years…we will keep Boldin, Ellerbe and a few others. If Birk retires…no problem…Cary Williams has always been our weak link…no loss there…Kruger is a SITUATIONAL pass rusher…Ed Reed can’t and wont tackle anymore because of his nerve condition in his neck and shoulder….the Patriots can have him. Ozzie will only keep Reed at a REASONABLE number…somewhere around $4 mil…if the Pats want to give him $7 mil…he’s all yours.

Ozzie will keep the guys that will win us another Superbowl next year…Ozzie doesn’t OVERPAY free agents that are looking for a big payday just because we won a Superbowl…bank on it.

The Ravens haven’t been in the playoffs for 5 years in a row ..capped off with a Superbowl Championship…because of any MESS we were ever in.

And don’t forget we would have won the Superbowl last year also if Lee Evans doesn’t drop a perfect pass from Joe in the endzone against the Patriots in the playoff game at Foxboro. We would have trounced the Giants.

The only MESS is the fiasco in Pittsburgh.

ravenator says:Feb 17, 2013 10:23 PM

Anymore predictions youd like to make Woodley? Superbowl MVP Joe Flacco. Soak it up haters. Pittsbuirgh franchise is on a downward spiral. Their organization knows it, their players know it and the knowledgable fans know it as well. Nothing looks bright in your future. The cesspool is where you will go, and its where you will stay.

armadalolz says:Feb 17, 2013 11:53 PM

The Steelers didn’t win a championship for the first forty years of their existence. They proceeded to win four in the 70’s with a roster of roided up players during a period where there was no free agency and teams got to keep the players they drafted for as long as they wanted. The steelers then proceeded to not win another superbowl until the 2000’s. The Ravens have been around for 17 years and have won 2 championships, that’s as many as you have in the same time period. And let’s not forget the fact that our team picked up and moved, taking our 2 championships and a superbowl with them.

And that’s not even getting into the fact that the Packers, Bears, and Giants have more championships than you do.

ravensfan8780 says:Feb 18, 2013 12:19 AM

If he has a good work ethic he will be fine, I remember when Suggs came into the season out of shape after he got his huge contract, he’s been a monster on the field ever since his disappointing season after the contract year

jeffa43 says:Feb 18, 2013 2:09 AM

Steeler fans want him in better shape as well…

You hearing us Lamar, we can’t buy your jersey if you ain’t performing!

Woodley is supposed to be one of the premiere outside linebackers in the league . His play needs to reflect that . Bottom line , he needs to drop weight . Take a good look at him . The guy is bigger than some defensive lineman . When youre rushing off the edge trying to get to the quarterback , that requires speed . Thats hard to do when youre 270 lbs. .

The Steelers didn’t win a championship for the first forty years of their existence. They proceeded to win four in the 70′s with a roster of roided up players during a period where there was no free agency and teams got to keep the players they drafted for as long as they wanted. The steelers then proceeded to not win another superbowl until the 2000′s. The Ravens have been around for 17 years and have won 2 championships, that’s as many as you have in the same time period. And let’s not forget the fact that our team picked up and moved, taking our 2 championships and a superbowl with them.

And that’s not even getting into the fact that the Packers, Bears, and Giants have more championships than you do.

What is it with you Baltimorons and re writing history. The ravens are the purple browns. The browns won nothing after the merger and colts took their history with them.lipstick on a pig can’t hide the pig..funny how many raven trolls commenting on this thread and not on a the raven thread about a possible draft pick with Sizzle like drinking problems. Ah yes Charm City and its tolerance for dead beats…..smh

“And that’s not even getting into the fact that the Packers, Bears, and Giants have more championships than you do.”

Yes, those teams dominated the 8-team NFL back in the day. Modern era, the Steelers are the best franchise in football, maybe sports.

Suck on that for a while.

runtheball says:Feb 18, 2013 8:56 AM

Offseason work maybe the reason for the hamstring issues, but anyone who thinks he played bad needs to watch the games instead of just reading the box score. You can’t sack the QB when you are dropping back into coverage, as Woodley did the majority of the time that he was actually on the field. If you charted the plays he rushed the passer he probably had the highest percentage of sacks and hurries.

ravenator says:Feb 18, 2013 9:13 AM

Steeler fans are dying for a competitive team. Last two years, zero division titles, zero playoff wins, all while their hated rival hoist a Lombardi and send a legend out on top. Keep it coming losers. I can see the desperation in all your posts. Your front office is a joke, your contracts paid to underperforming players are pathetic and a fan base that cant accept reality is just priceless. Cheers!

Steeler fans are dying for a competitive team. Last two years, zero division titles, zero playoff wins, all while their hated rival hoist a Lombardi and send a legend out on top. Keep it coming losers. I can see the desperation in all your posts. Your front office is a joke, your contracts paid to underperforming players are pathetic and a fan base that cant accept reality is just priceless. Cheers!

1 0 What legend? Oh you mean the slasher…that was the only good thing that happened for the rat turds this year..the moral albatross is gone…now people will only snicker instead of laugh when talking about the model team that is the Ravens.

slammer69 says:Feb 18, 2013 10:59 AM

Let me see if I got this right regarding Mr. Woodley. Little money “Big ” Production. Big Money “Little” Production. Okay, solution. Let him go so he can be lazy with another team and maybe BS them for another lottery check.

thepittsburghkid says:Feb 18, 2013 11:28 AM

Why do Raven fans continually comment on Steeler stories? Don’t you understand that makes you look pathetic, scared and jealous? It’s the same screen names over and over, imagine how unfulfilled and unproductive their life must be. It’s super sad.

there goes nofool again…the moralist…the intellectual. the man who is constantly challenged to back up his slasher ray claims with hard evidence but cant because there is none. so i am sure he will do what he usually does…insult baltimore and talk about the glory days of yesteryear. i find it funny that even steeler fans are now attacking him. thats priceless. go ravens!!

captainrick2285 says:Feb 18, 2013 3:16 PM

What do you expect. He was trained in Michigan. Harrison’s knee bothers me more. I can’t believe the Steelers didn’t make him get the surgery in April when they knew he needed it. They all layed down on the job this year.

Fool is a clown who has an overwhelming obsession with Ray Lewis. The fact that you can’t make a post without mentioning his name proves your man-crush.

If that gets you mad yinzgotsix so be it…..I know what I say has meaning because you are complaining about something you hold so dear, but really you are not a raven fan but just getting on my back back because I fingered you for a loser in Pittsburgh who hates the steelers as his claim to fame. Pity you living amongst the enemy..can you make it ok troll?

It’s no “claim to fame” clown, it’s just so easy to hate the stillers and especially their ignorant fans. Let’s stick to my point and talk about your crush with Ray Lewis. Probably wish you would have seen a LB that great in Pissburgh throughout your ridiculous life huh? Oh well atleast yinzgotsix!

armadalolz says:Feb 19, 2013 2:23 AM

Yes, those teams dominated the 8-team NFL back in the day. Modern era, the Steelers are the best franchise in football, maybe sports.

Suck on that for a while.

–

How can you be the best franchise in sports if you’re not even the best franchise in the NFL? Modern era, the Patriots have won 3 superbowls and been to more than you. Suck on that.